Lid, Box, Cigarette, D88.191

Round - cylindrical metal container with lid, covered with leather. Container was originally a commercial cigarette container. Lid is embossed with lettering which can be read from inside (mirror image) as "5 Pall Mall London SW" (in print) and across the centre of lid (in script) "Rothmans". Container is completely covered in red leather tightly bound and stretched over all exterior surfaces. Across top of lid a strip of the otherwise red leather has been dyed dark brown or black. The edge of this 'brown' strip is 'woven' with a light coloured plant fibre. The fibre runs through neatly cut spaces in the leather. The lid fits firmly in place over the top of the container. The cirumference of the main body of the tin is covered with the same red leather interrupted with 3 roughly equally spaced bands of the light coloured plant fibre 'woven' into the leather. each band runs the circumference of the container. Each band is formed of neat patterns of small alternating 'blocks' of red leather and light coloured plant fibre. The bottom too is covered with red leather and with no plant fibre or other decoration. General appearance of the container is of one neatly crafted by a rather skilled leather worker. Patina on leather suggests some use, though wear is not apparent.

Likely Hausa(?) Consistent with initial description as from Kano, Nigeria (Northern Nigeria) Iron/tin (as in 'tin can'), leather (goat/sheep?), plant fibre. Original use was as commercial cigare tte container, i.e. sold full of cigarettes. Now covered with leather was likely a general purpose container. Round - cylindrical metal container with lid, covered with leather. Container was originally a commercial cigarette container. Lid is embossed with lettering which can be read from inside (mirror image) as "5 Pall Mall London SW" (in print) and across the centre of lid (in script) "Rothmans". Container is completely covered in red leather tightly bound and stretched over all exterior surfaces. Across top of lid a strip of the otherwise red leather has been dyed dark brown or black. The edge of this 'brown' strip is 'woven' with a light coloured plant fibre. The fibre runs through neatly cut spaces in the leather. The lid fits firmly in place over the top of the container. The cirumference of the main body of the tin is covered with the same red leather interrupted with 3 roughly equally spaced bands of the light coloured plant fibre 'woven' into the leather. each band runs the circumference of the container. Each band is formed of neat patterns of small alternating 'blocks' of red leather and light coloured plant fibre. The bottom too is covered with red leather and with no plant fibre or other decoration. General appearance of the container is of one neatly crafted by a rather skilled leather worker. Patina on leather suggests some use, though wear is not apparent. Initial description (donor) suggests 1930s - or no later than. Height of container (with lid on) = 82 mm. Circumference of container = 67mm. Lip of lid extends down over container 11mm. —Joel A Vanderburg

Donated

Locality Nigeria